Hydraulic booster for controlling operational parts of aircraft



Aug. 5, 1952 p KUPlEC 2,605,750

HYDRAULIC BOOSTER FOR CONTROLLING OPERATIONAL PARTS OF AIRCRAFT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed July 24, 1948 IN VEN TOR T lh @KY l? Aff/nga' Filtra lkw ' Aug 5, 1952 H. P. KUPlEc 2,605,750

' HYDRAULIC BOOSTER FOR CONTROLLING AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL PARTS OF 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed July 24, 1948 JNVENToR. /Akfy A/ap/Ee BY vthe underlying parts.

Patented Aug. 5, 1952l HYDRAULIC BOOSTER Fox.I coNTRoLLiNG y,originarionlin PARTS oF AIRCRAFT Harry P. Kupiec, Paramus, Associates, Incorporated, MTeterboro; N. vco'rpt'lra'tion of New Jersey l J., assigner to Air J., a

applicati@ July 24, 194sser1a14Nq.4o,t57e

This invention relates" to a hydraulic booster part of an aircraft sugli as a rudder, faile'rons,

elevators, e1evons,.wing naps and the like.

l An object of the .invention is to. provide a hydraulic booster connected with the control column and with an operational part by cables such as by `a push-pull cabler system y whereby the control column is sensitive to the touch requiring little effort on the'part of ,the pilot to actuate the same and a slight movement there- Y of places the booster inpoperation to move vthe operational part of the aircraft by hydraulic pressure. A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a hydraulic ybooster infwhi'ch a piston and a piston rod'constitute the' movableparts for admitting and exhausting the 'uid pressure from the booster.

Another object of the invention '-is to `pro-vide a hydraulic booster having piston and piston-rod formed `with vports which are adapted to be brought into registryby movement of the vpiston rod by manual actuation of the manual control to therebyv admit fluid pressure into thebooster through the piston.

Still another object of the invention is-the provision of a hydraulic booster of the indicated :character'in which fluid pressure inlet-and return Y ports are swivelly connected with Vreciprocatory piston rods so as to vpermit of relative turning movement of 'the ports and rods and the use of flexible connections with the portsvto thereby prevent binding action on the rods.

Still another object ofthe invention `is to provide a booster of vsaid character'which Jperates on standard hydraulic pressures utilized inaircraft such as 1,000 to 3,000 lbs. per square inch and which booster is compact inform and light inweight and e'icient for its purpose.'

With the foregoing'and other objects in view, reference is now made to the followingspecication and accompanying drawings in which-the preferred embodiment of ythe -invention islillustrated. f

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top planview offa hydraulic booster constructed in accordance with the invention and with the cylinderpartly brokenaway lto show Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken approximately on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional VView taken approximately on line `33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. jfl is' a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig.` 5 .is a 'transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring 'to the drawings by' characters of reference, the hydraulic booster includes a cylinder I0 having'a piston II mounted for reciprocatory movement therein and which is provided with aligned valve rod I2 and piston rod I3 projecting through the heads I4'a`nd I5 of said cylinder. The valve rod I2 and piston Vrod I3 are connected y.respectively with the ymanualV control column notk sho-wn) and with the operational part of the aircraft `(not shown) such as the rudder, ailerons." elevators; elevons, wing naps -and the like by cables Vfragmentarily indicated by the reference "characters 'I6' and I'I. The cables I6 and I'I are secured in openings I8 and I9 in the ends of the rods I 2 and lI3 and these cables may be a part of a push-pull cable system.

f The piston II is arranged within the cylinder lIIJ so `'as to provide chambers .20 and 2| on opposite sides of the piston and hydraulic fluid is admitted to'the booster through an inlet or fluid pressure port 22 provided in a tting 23 swivelly mounted on the outer end of the valve rod I2 and which port is in communication'with kvthe hollow interior or longitudinally extending bore 24 in saidrod. The hydraulic uid isexhausted`from the booster through an outlet or return port 25 providedin a fitting `26 swivelly mounted von the..piston.rod i3 and which outlet portl is incommunication with the hollow inl terior or bore 21 in said rod.

piston. The inner .ends of .thepassagevvays 28 intersect ,and communicate with radially disposed ducts 3l opening kat their inner ends into the central bore 30. l

The piston is valso provided vwith two parallel passageways32which open atvtheir outer ends into the chamber y 20 through the vrecessed end 33 `of said piston y.and whichv extend inwardly therevfrom adistance approximately midway ofrsaid 4 the valve rod I2 and from said groove the hydraulic pressure is adapted to pass through the radially arranged ducts 38 in the piston and into the longitudinally extending grooves 34. From these grooves, the hydraulicyiluid passes through .the ducts3] andinto the grcoves 48 in the piston rod I3 and from said groovethrough the opening 52 and then into the bore 21 in said rod from the outer periphery of the piston. VThe grooves 34 each have two radially arranged ductsV 36 and 31 opening at their outerends through the-l bottom wall thereof and communicatingat-their.

inner ends with the centralbore'39. Radially arranged ducts 33 also extend through the wall 'v of the piston communicating at their outer ends with the grooves 34 substantially medi'ally thereof fw'hich bore the hydraulic fluid is exhausted through ithe return port 25. Y' When the-valve rod I3 is moved to the left by actuation of the vpull cable I6, the radially arranged1openings'45' in said rod are brought into registry withtheradially disposed ducts 35 in the piston whereby the hydraulic Huid from the pressurefport 22 isl admitted through the longitudirespectively and at their inner ends with .-thecentral bore 30. i

The valve rod I2 has its inner end slidably mounted in the central bore 36 of the piston II .and the inner end portion of said rod is provided with four peripheral grooves 39, 40, 4I and 42 formed in the cuter periphery of the rod' and extending annularly thereaboutfin' longitudinally spaced relation with the outermost groovei42 engaged by a locking plate VI3 which is secured by studs 44 against the recessed end 33 of the piston for limiting the sliding movement of the'rod with reference to the piston. The valve rod is pro- 'Y vided with a plurality of radially arranged openings 45 which communicate at their inner ends with the bore 24 and at their outerends open into the peripheral groove 40.

The piston rod I3 has its inner endmted in the central bore of the piston II fwiththe inner end thereof disposed in spaced relation from vthe inner end of the valve rod I2 and with the bores 24 and'21 therein respectively closedby screw plugs 46 and 41. The innerend of said rod I3 isi :formed with peripheral grooves 48 and 49 in the outer peripherythereof which extend annularly thereabout in longitudinally spaced relation with the outermost groove 49 engaged by aL locking plate 5I] secured against vthe recessed end 29 4of' the piston by studs 5I for connecting the rod to the piston. The said piston rod is provided with a plurality of radially arranged openings 52 which communicate at theirjinner ends with the bore 21 thereof and at their outer ends-with the` i.

peripheral grooves 48. 1 f

The heads I4 and I5 of-,the cylinder are formed with threaded openings ,53 and 54 respectively which communicate at their inner ends through reduced lateral openings 55 and56 with the chambers 20 and 2I respectively. A conduit 51 issecured in the threaded openings 53 and 54 in the heads I4 and I5 for emergency exhausting the hydraulic pressure from the chambers 20 and 2|. A Valve 58 normally closes the conduit 51.

When the piston valve I2 is moved to the right by actuation of the pull cable I6, the radially arranged openings 45 in said rod are brought into registry with the radially disposed ducts 3| whereby the hydraulic pressure from the pressure port gitudinal passageways 32 and thence through the'v 23 radially arranged ducts 35 into the groove 39 in nally extending passageways 32 in the piston and thence into the chamber 2U to effect movement of thepiston I I to the left and consequent movement of the piston rod I3 to theleftA so as to move the pull cable I1 and the'operational part of the aircraft. The movement of the pistonfll to the left forces the hydraulic fluidinthe chamber 2I through the longitudinal' 'passageway'sv 28 and thencethrough the radially arranged'ducts 3I into the grooveil I v in thevvalve rod I 2 and .thence through theV radially arranged'jducts 36 and, into the longitudinally v extendingA grooves 34." 4From said grooves the" hydraulic 'fluid passes through the radially arranged',.ducts 31 and thence into the groove 48 inthe piston rod I3.and from said groovethrough the bore 21 in said! rod from which the hydraulic'ilui'd 'is exhausted through thereturnport25. j

In order to permit air t'eenter and to be vented from the Vspace.between' the confronting ends of the valve rod I2f'and pistonrod. I3 so that the valve rod I2 has 4free V4sliding movementin the centralbore 36; of the piston I I, the piston rod I3 is providedrwitlfi a vent tube59 extending through the screw lpluglII'lI andopening'at its inner end into' the space between said rodsand'at its youter end th tube communicates with the opening I8 in which4 thepull cable I1 is secured. The pull cable VIl -is vprovided with a `ventV 60V opening to the-atmosphere and for ming a continuation of the vent passagewaythrough the`vent tube-58.

The locking plates43 and-5I] are made up of -semicircular sectorsY 6I and 62 to'perm'it-of the emplacement thereof in the recesses 33'and V2li-respectively with the inner peripheral -l portions thereof yprojecting into the. grooves 4 2, and 50 respectively. Thesaidsectors6 I and 62 are notched in their outer peripherfies as at 6 3 in alignment with the longitudinally extending passageways32 and 28 soas to permit ot the flowof the hydraulic fluid through said Y.-pas sagefvvaurs-A and intojsaid chambers 2 0 and 2 I and theexhausting of the fluid pressure therefr0m .x y" The cylinder I0 vis providedwith a'reduced portion, 64 extending inwardly from eachfend which portions are adapted to snugly engage within the cylindricalwall portion 65 of the heads I4 and I5 respectively withthe; interiorly threaded portion V66 of saidv Wall portions threadedlyengagingthc preventing leakage of the hydraulic fluid about the value and piston rods andtbetween said bearing supports and the heads I4 and I5. Washers "estesa .14| jefe v disposed Liri ,emitting"reitttenhagaisr the inner faces `Aof n sa d be'aring supports which `are securedinpositionbyfsnap rings 12. :The valve rod I2 and piston rod I3 are also annularlyl grooves .in the rods respectively and positioned against ,theI opposite sidenfaces of thefittings. The uidpressure port 22and-the returnpo'rt 25 insaidgttings respectively communicate'with'annular recesses 'l1 arrangediin said fittings :inA surrounding relation with the valve and piston rods n respectively. Y The said valve and piston rods'are each formed withA an opening 'I8 extending diametrically therethrough in alignment with said annular recesses and in intersectingrelation with the outer ends of the bores 24 and 21 to thereby establish communication between the said uid pressure and return ports and the bores 24 and 2l respectively.

The head Id of the cylinder I is formed with diametrically disposed outwardly projecting lugs 'I9 adjacent the outer end thereof on which are mounted sleeves 8d to permit of the free rotation of the lugs therein for mounting the sleeves in xed supports so that the cylinder I0 together with the valve rod I2 and piston rod I3 may be mounted for swinging movement about the axis of said lugs. Constructed in this manner, the valve rod I2 and piston rod I3 have free sliding movement in the ends of the cylinder in whatever angular position the cylinder is disposed. The valve rod I2 and piston rod I3 also have turning movement with reference to the cylinder I0 about their longitudinal axes and this turning movement together with the swinging movement of the cylinder prevents binding of the rods in the openings in the cylinder. The fittings 23 and 26 also being mounted for swivel turning movement prevents binding of the same thereon.

It will be understood that relative slight movement of the manual control will bring the openings Ii in the valve rod I2 into registry with the ducts 35 in the piston to thereby admit hydraulic uid to the cylinder and effect movement of the piston and piston rod I3 in accordance with the movement of the valve rod I2. By a steady continuous movement of the manual control the piston II will be moved to a position at one end thereof and movement of the manual control in the opposite direction will effect movement of the piston to a position adjacent the opposite end of the cylinder.

What is claimed is:

1. In an hydraulic booster for moving an operational part of an aircraft, a cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder for reciprocatory movement and having a bore opening through the opposite ends thereof, valve and piston rods having their inner ends arranged in said bore in spaced relation with the outer ends thereof protruding through the opposite ends of the cylinder, said piston rod being secured in xed relation with reference to said piston and the outer end thereof being adapted to be connected with the operational part of the aircraft and the inner end of said valve rod being mounted for longitudinal movement in said bore with the outer end there- 'eflgpeiis adartedlgtobef connected with a mannen controLj Said piston 'aving" Apassageways, opening 'intojsai'd bore'fand'gi 'tliecham'berat the 'opposite ends ofjthe piston, said valve and pistonrods havingj'passagewaysf'openingjinto said bore and eite'n'oflringv throu'ghthe protruding portions therelofjde'nnin'g fluidpres'suresupply and return ports respectively jandtlie passageways in said piston and r'ojds being "adaptedtojbe brought into commuhica'tionjby' thefmovement of-said valve rod to alternatejpositions to jthereby 'admit fluid to one en'djof the cylinderjand toeXh'aust fluid' from 'the other 'end Vtliereorso fas vto :effect movement of -said pisfton'vjand said piston rod,y and a vvent tube extending longitudinallythlough the passageway in 'said 'piston rod Tand opening yinto said space between the veiveendfpiston rods to thereby permit air to enter and be ventedfrom said space. 2. In an hydraulic boosterfor moving an'operational part organ aircraft, a cylinder, a piston mounted insaidcylinder for 'reciprocatory movementV and having a bore opening through the opposite ends thereof, valve and piston rods having their inner ends arranged in said bore in spaced relation with the outer ends thereof protruding through the opposite ends of the cylinder, said piston rod being secured in fixed relation with reference to said piston and the outer end thereof being adapted to be connected with the operational part of the aircraft and the inner end of said valve rod being mounted for longitudinal movement in said bore with the outer end thereof being adapted to be connected with a manual control, said piston having passageways opening into said bore and into the chamber at the opposite ends of the piston, said valve and piston rods having passageways opening into said bore and extending through the protruding portions respectively, ttings swivelly mounted on said valve and piston rods having openings in communication with the passageways in said rods and constituting iiud pressure supply and return ports respectively and the passageways in said piston and rods being adapted to be brought into communication by the movement of said valve rod to alternate positions to thereby admit fluid to one end of the cylinder and to exhaust fluid from the other end thereof so as to effect movement of said piston and said piston rod in a direction corresponding to the movement of the valve rod, and a vent tube extending longitudinally through the passageway in said piston rod and opening into said space between the valve and piston rods to thereby permit air to enter and be vented from said space.

3. In an hydraulic booster for moving an operational part of an aircraft, a cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder for reciprocatory movement and having a bore opening through the opposite ends thereof, valve and piston rods having their inner ends arranged in said bore in spaced relation with the outer ends thereof protruding through the opposite ends of the cylinder, said piston rod being secured in fixed relation with reference to said piston and the outer end thereof being adapted to be connected with the operational part of the aircraft and the inner end of said valve rod being mounted for longitudinal movement in said bore with the outer end thereof being adapted to be connected with a manual control, said piston having passageways opening into said bore and into the chamber at the opposite ends of the piston, said valve and piston rods having passageways opening into said bore and extending through the protruding portions thereof defining fluid pressure Supplyndretum Por-*2S respeetively,l `the passageway fin said valve i' rod being adapted to be brought into communication With-theipassageways respectively in-said piston by the I movement r of said "valve rodv to` alternate positions and said valve ro'd'having annular re# cesses in the periphery of the inner end portion thereof arranged in'said bore and said piston having Val longitudinally,extending passageway with lateral openings extending into said bore4 with one of said openingsdisposed in registry with the opening in the passageway in said piston rod and with the rern'ainderofl said lateral openings being adapted to be brought into registry with said annular recessed by Vxnovnient of said valve rod to said alternate l'positions 'respectively to thereby admit fiuidto oneendof the cylinder and to exhaust fluid fromvthe other end thereof so as to effect movement of said piston and piston rod in a direction corresponding tothe movement of the valve rod, and a vent tube extending longitudinally through the passageway in said piston rod and opening into saidspace between the inner endsof the valve and piston rods to thereby permit fluid to enter and be vented from said space.

HARRY P. KUPIEC.

REFERENCES CITED The :following references are of record Vin the le of this patent:

UNITED YSTATES PATENTS 

